A licence is required for each unpowered vessel including all rigid and inflatable craft canoes kayaks rowing boats and paddleboards used on the canal unless the user is a british canoeing member and our terms conditions apply to anyone using a craft on the canal. With your help we can achieve this seemingly impossible task and already several miles of the canal are in regular use by small boats canoes and the trust s own trip boats.
Our boats have to undergo regular safety inspection by the mca maritime and coastguard agency an executive agency of the department for transport.
Wey and arun canal boat trips. In 2018 a trust wide appeal to fund one or more machines was made and subsequently two defibrillators were. They will be on our electric boat wiggonholt with the maximum passenger numbers reduced from 48 to a maximum. Canal boat trips to begin again volunteers will be welcoming passengers back to loxwood this weekend as boat trips from the wharf resume after a four month break.
The wey arun canal trust runs three trip boats. The third defibrillator will be stored in the canal centre in loxwood west sussex and taken onboard boat trips. It has an access lift for passengers with mobility difficulties.
During the year we have special event cruises cream teas pirates princesses and evening trips. Trips may be extended into november depending on weather and covid 19 provisions. The trust s large electric boat wiggonholt has been adapted to take a maximum of 14 passengers instead of 48 to allow for 2m social distancing and crew will be following strict.
We are pleased to be able to run limited boat trips on the wey arun canal at loxwood. All skippers and crew are members of the wey arun canal trust and are volunteers. Please note that mobility impaired passengers should make themselves known to the boat crew or ticket.
Skippers are in possession of a current boatmaster s licence issued by the mca so you are in safe hands. 200 years after it opened over 3 000 members and volunteers are working to reopen the wey arun canal for leisure. Please click on trip above to find out availability.
The trust has added to the number of defibrillators it has available thanks to the generosity of boat group volunteers. The electrically powered boat wiggonholt is wider than a conventional narrow boat and can accommodate up to 48 passengers. For information about these and private charter boat trips and special events such as mother s day pirates princesses adventures cream teas sunset cruises halloween and santa cruises please telephone the wey arun canal trust office on 01403 752403 or email.
About wey arun canal trust we operate public trip boats every weekend from the beginning of april until the end of october. The boat will be decorated for halloween and fancy dress is encouraged. The boat trips on sunday 18th and 25th october and weds 21st and 28th october are on a halloween themed boat.
The wey arun canal trust has three trip boats although at present only our wiggonholt boat is operating because of social distancing restrictions.
